This year’s Ramzan-centric television shows confirmed one thing: channels will stoop (and only stoop) to any level for ratings. The problem is they are fast running out of ideas, and, as a result, this year, apart from the odd controversy, jaded audiences had to make do with mediocre Ramzan offerings and hosts who sleepwalked through the season.

Ramzan Mein Bol

Ramzan shows would not be the same without Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain hopping around. This time on Bol. In true ALH style the man did the work of three anchors and hosted Ramzan Mein Bol in addition to the Game Show Aisey Chaleyga (‘This is how a game show is run’). The transmission was fuelled by the know-it-all doctor’s trademark mix of self praise, Urdu in an Arab accent, and jibes at the audience.

This year, however, it seemed that age was catching up with the channel-hopping ALH who looked bloated and tired and used too much pancake to cover it all up rather unsuccessfully. And in the true spirit of Ramz…. Sorry... one-upmanship, the grand prize on his game show was an aeroplane. Yes, you heard right. An. aeroplane. Of course, the winner will need a porch to park their personal jet!

Dil Dil Ramzan

This show on Geo Entertainment had all the right elements – celebrities galore, spiritual advice, roohani ilaaj, the works. But it lacked punch. With actors Nauman Ejaz and Bushra Ansari as hosts, the team roped in Shafaat Ali who catapulted to fame last year with his online mimicry of politicians. (Uncanny stuff that was.) Ali became the chota on Dil Dil Ramzan, running around, interacting with the audience and distributing prizes.

However, what could have been a casting coup became a bit of a dud as our chota lacked presence. Nauman Ejaz also stumbled while anchoring, looking ill at ease in his holier-than-thou avatar.

Geo Khelo Pakistan

In an interesting twist, Geo Entertainment also roped in cricketing heroes Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar to host their game show, Geo Khelo Pakistan. The duo is definitely a find and both cricketers definitely enjoyed themselves as they carried the show with humour, easy confidence and plenty of camaraderie. It seems cricketing skills aren’t their only talents!

Shan-e-Ramzan

Still reeling from the tragic death of co-host Junaid Jamshed, anchor Waseem Badami forged ahead by hosting the Ramzan transmission, Shan-e-Ramzan on ARY Digital this year. You may not have agreed with JJ’s take on life; however, the man’s loss was deeply felt on this top-rated Ramzan show even by people who couldn’t stomach some of his more controversial statements.

TV anchor Iqrarul Hasan was roped in to co-host, but the usually energetic Badami wasn’t quite himself this year and frequently peppered his onscreen time with memories of Junaid Jamshed and the late qawwal Amjad Sabri.

Jeeto Pakistan

This game show on ARY Digital starring Fahad Mustafa (he doesn’t just host guys, he wows), continued its successful run. Giving away big, better and more. The show’s philosophy remained the same. If you can blink and breathe, thou shalt win!

Ishq-e-Ramzan

We would have missed TV One’s Ishq-e-Ramzan completely had Sahir Lodhi not infuriated the awam with yet another public booboo. Was it scripted? Was it not? Whatever the case may be, the fact is the man was born to irritate and is living out his destiny through every possible platform: morning shows, radio shows, movies, online rejoinders to his movies and Ramzan shows.

So this Ramzan, while a female participant on his show made a heartfelt and impassioned speech about the state of the county and its women, she called out to the Quaid-i-Azam to witness the state of affairs.

Our man Lodhi, who by now was seething visibly, interjected to create a controversy where none existed. Misunderstanding (deliberately?) what the girl was saying, Lodhi accused her of challenging the founder of the nation and launched into a needless defence of the Quaid. You could almost hear the country groan collectively. A ruse to rake in the TRPs? Probably. The man needs to stop embarrassing himself and us. He also needs to refrain from public life forever. Just refrain. Please.

Ittehad-e-Ramzan

How many permutations and combinations can you play around with when you are picking a name for your Ramzan transmission? The answer to that question is probably more exciting and demands more involvement than watching Shaista Lodhi and her co-host Noor-ul-Hasan on yet another mundane, nondescript show on A-Plus.

And when things got rough in the rating game, Shaista stepped in to cry on cue. You’ll click on the clip when it appears on social media telling you to “Find out what made Shaista cry” won’t you? The only silver lining in an otherwise bleak show were jet setting actors who sent in scenic videos from wherever they chose to fly away from the Land of the Pure during the holy month. There! I’ve said it.

Meanwhile, at least two stars – okay, make that one star, Hamza Ali Abbasi and one starlet, Ushna Shah, made a fuss despite not appearing on their own television shows during Ramzan.

The vocal Abbasi tweeted that he was doing this because he felt the media is not ready to air content that centres on things that he wants to talk about. Was anyone waiting with bated breath for him to appear on the small screen and dazzle us? Remember, last year, the actor’s show was pulled off air for stirring up a hornet’s nest as he boldly tried to discuss the status of the persecuted Ahmadi community, and was promptly banned by PEMRA.

Ushna vented on social media and created more waves than even many Ramzan transmissions by throwing the spotlight on actors (and one female actor in particular) who wear revealing clothes all year round, then don a dupatta to spout religious edicts as Ramzan show hosts, cashing in on religious fervour. (Siblings Shaista and Sahir please take note.) Ushna, fair enough. One question though: Dude, do you really think anyone watches these shows for enlightenment?

Comments (18) Closed

Well written! How our combined social conscience will take us to lower and lower standards of hypocrisy and faux piety. These hosts are the best examples of what their society hides.

BasJun 23, 2017 03:53pm

Seems like you're stooping the new low.... Sometime try to focus on positives and if you weren't able to ... then I feel sorry for you

AlbertJun 23, 2017 04:54pm

Just marketeers marketing themselves!

bryanJun 23, 2017 05:22pm

I think lack of content and theme is a phase that TV channels go through. The talent remains but TV is about glamour or it is made out to be that. Any nation or culture with a fairly ancient past does not have to struggle for content.
The industry will be forced to think unconventionally.

But let us not forget that there is only a limited content that will engage people. Manufacturing content like a factory is like putting a gun on a poet's head and asking him to write a love song. Such emotions do not follow a deadline- it just flows sometimes too many at a time sometimes just nothing for eons.
Industrialization of entertainment brings with it a situation of conflict- since one is about one size fits all while entertainment is about variety.
This will continue to be a challenge- otherwise the society needs to accept few things that are not a part of their own culture- in Pakistan that would be a challenge.
Within the set boundaries, budgets the content developers are having it tough

HASANJun 23, 2017 05:52pm

Why cant just people stay at their homes and maintain the sanctity of this holy month by devoting to prayers and zikr instead of jumping for prizes in game shows?!?!

RIZJun 23, 2017 06:26pm

Surely need new ideas and new faces too. There is no point of dragging same host for 30 days and both host and program lost the energy. Wouldn't it be better if spending money on those who needs help rather than giving gifts to people by let them wearing sari and performing dance or play childish act.

FarhanJun 23, 2017 10:53pm

I never watch these shows. Pathetic.

Hasin AhmedJun 23, 2017 11:50pm

To vent one's thoughts frankly and honestly would certainly land him in trouble or definitely this would not be allowed to go into print.

JamshedJun 24, 2017 02:44am

Since mass proliferation of TV channels in Pakistan it is free for all!! all these talk show hosts have hit the jackpot. Any body who can yak constantly, interrupt others and face the camera is either an expert or a host. Looks like subzi mandi. Garbage in garbage out. These channel have zero educational value. Hosts like Aamir Liaqat and Mr Badami just migrated from Bijnour(UP).

ZAJun 24, 2017 02:55am

More spiritual than the transmission.

JA-AustraliaJun 24, 2017 06:02am

Giving out airplanes and expensive prizes?
Seems a little different from the Ramzan spirit we were taught to practice humility, self-restraint, and give to the poor.
Oh well...

ukzJun 24, 2017 06:47am

This article should be translated to Urdu so that maximum audience can read it to open their minds. Can't agree more.

YaaJun 24, 2017 07:55am

Badami and Dr liyaqut are worst

MAKJun 24, 2017 11:41am

Doing these thematic programes daily for hours on end for thirty days is over saturating for the audience and cumbersome for the hosts, the audience will be more receptive if shows were done less often, say on Fridays only

IffinJul 01, 2017 03:10pm

@HASAN spot on bro!!!

Mrs.khalilJul 07, 2017 01:57pm

It is very unfortunate , that on the name of independent media or freedom of speech our media stoop so low , not only the Ramadan transmission , the content of the dramas is also deteriorating at its lowest. We have to think , where this media wants to take our society. But the most important worrying sign is , where is governament and when it will take some action

Desk Mrec Top

Should Pakistani brands use Indian celebrities to endorse their products?